Forums - Guitar amplifiers

BlackBess

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Guitar amplifiers
04/26/24 at 19:35:45

After I posted in HellionDarkLord’s recent thread, I started to think why was I building loudspeakers with cardboard cabinets? While mindlessly riffing in my “music” room, it dawned on me. Even in high school I had a job & every once in a while I would even get paid for playing my Viola. And I saw my Pignose sitting there. I thought to myself that’s what started it. Let’s not dwell on guitar buying (or the 1937 Kreutzmann baby grand that I bought & didn’t shift until earlier this century). So back in 1974 I picked that up, it’s an early “red label “ that I bought new.

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BlackBess

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Re: Guitar amplifiers
Reply #1 - 04/26/24 at 19:55:26

Well, many amps have come & gone in the intervening years but some have stuck. Like this puppy that I picked up in the late ‘70’s, a metal panel, 4-holer, 50 watter from 1973. The model # is I believe is “1987” though it just says “Lead” on the back. As you can see it’s paired up to a “1960B” basket weave cab with 4, 25 watt greenbacks, from about the same year. Picked those up used, but I think I got some gigs just because of that rig & the glorious sound that it would produce.

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Lon

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Re: Guitar amplifiers
Reply #2 - 04/26/24 at 20:19:16

I have a lot more amps than I need for my guitars and basses but there are two that I use predominantly.

And they are the two newest to me, and they are ones I would have never investigated earlier in my explorations as they are not fully tubed.

The real workhorse is the Fender Bassman TV Fifteen. A tubed preamp into a very powerful non-tube amp paired with a fifteen inch speaker. Fantastic clean sound for my guitars, and a deep and shaking sound for my basses. I love this amp!! With guitar I add a little bit of reverb from my Shreyer Audio reverb unit.

The other has no tube, but it has the real jazz sound I crave. Mine is a prototype with just one channel (the production unit has a second channel with effects) and a wine colored finish that I don't think was available other wise. It is so light a combo but with a rich sound!

Fender Jazzmaster Ultra-light SE

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BlackBess

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Re: Guitar amplifiers
Reply #3 - 04/26/24 at 21:43:09

Love me some tweed. So after a bunch of combos from Fender, MusicMan, Legend (cool wooden cab & cane grill)even Polytone among others, I picked this up. A Tweed “Deluxe” from Tom Mitchell after he left Mesa. A surprisingly loud 60 watts.

That was the first half of the 80’s Since then, nothing much hung on until I got this Carr Telstar. The thing that makes it unique is the el84 vs. a 6L6 in push- pull. I don’t know if anyone else is using dissimilar tubes together like that.

Then there’s the Dark Gene Green. Pumping out one half watt using a 12au7 as it’s single ended power tube, played mostly through this tweed MojoTone Slammin’ cab with a EVM12L speaker.

Lon, thanks for paying attention, everyone else, batter up!

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Lon

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"Love without
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Re: Guitar amplifiers
Reply #4 - 04/26/24 at 21:54:26

I like tweeds too, I also have a '59 Bassman reissue that I loved madly til the TV Fifteen shook her booty at me and drew me to her.

I also have a little Epiphone with EL84 and had a really cool Blackheart single-ended EL84 that a neighbor with no amp really liked so I gave it to him--my wife is always telling me to downsize, so I made a few points that I probably lost later. The Epiphone is like an icepick if you turn it up, don't use that often. I have a Blues Jr. wrapped in tweed that is nice too though the reverb tank has gone out twice.

And a few more, gathering dust.

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BlackBess

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Re: Guitar amplifiers
Reply #5 - 04/27/24 at 02:03:05

Thanks Lon,I love rockin’ a tweed Bassmen, can’t afford a real from the 50’s but the newer ones are cool. Do you have the LTD or the slightly older one with 4 alnico speakers? Do you jumper the channels? I would need something like a Dr. Z Airbrake mounted inside. Does anybody have a Divided by 13? There’s 4 different Dr. Z amps from up your way that I have my eye on. Then there’s Kowalski’s tweed 5c3 with octal pre-amp tubes that I hear calling my name. Plus he has a 2 watt Dark Gene Plus “head” & 12 watt combo coming out soon that should be sweet. I like to rotate usage so that the wife can’t complain about any just sitting around. Plus they all inspire me to play somewhat differently.

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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 2183	Re: Guitar amplifiers Reply #6 - 04/27/24 at 15:14:47 Quote: Posted by: BlackBess Posted on: Yesterday at 13:43:09 ...I got this Carr Telstar. The thing that makes it unique is the el84 vs. a 6L6 in push- pull. I don’t know if anyone else is using dissimilar tubes together like that... What the what?!?!?! That sounds more like something by Dr. Dolittle.
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BlackBess Seasoned Member TURN IT DOWN,I have children sleeping here Posts: 174	Re: Guitar amplifiers Reply #7 - 04/27/24 at 15:50:43 Check out the Carr website, he has some pretty cool amps, love me a Mercury V or a Super Bee someday before I punch out. Let’s make some noise & call it music. Thanks for the amusing picture. But a more accurate image would have dissimilar heads.
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BlackBess

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Re: Guitar amplifiers
Reply #8 - 05/03/24 at 22:24:25

This is the tube layout for the Carr Telstar amplifier. As is noted, the 6L6 slot can be occupied by different tube types such as the el34 or 6V6 among others.

Here’s another cute little puppy of a single el84, 5 watt Carr amp with a 10” speaker next to a Pignose for scale. It’s just over a foot in height. A Carr Raleigh.

This car may only have one “R” but darn if that carbon/kevlar weave doesn’t have a tweed look to it.

And as Headwig would say, “Enemies & advisories, they try to tear me down”

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 24899	Re: Guitar amplifiers Reply #9 - 07/12/24 at 00:15:31 Black Bess, I do have the one with the four Alnico speakers, and I do also have a "Hot Plate" that attenuates the sound and lets me get that cool overdriven amp sound at lower volumes.
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BlackBess

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Re: Guitar amplifiers
Reply #10 - 07/22/24 at 14:00:30

Attenuators have been a key part of my sound starting back in the ‘80’s with the Tom Scholz Power Soak. I also have a couple of amps with on board attenuation, the Carr Telstar & Suhr Corso. Small combo amps are super handy while something like your Baseman can be such a chore to transport. Head & cabinet set ups can be awkward but offer the opportunity to easily change tonal characteristics with a simple cabinet swap. I’ve had my eye on a Marshall model #1965, 4x10 but this 2x12 with Celestion Vintage 30’s has been filling the bill lately & isn’t too terrible to tote around.

Sitting in with a drummer rockin’ 2 kicks? This rig doesn’t mind.

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 24899	Re: Guitar amplifiers Reply #11 - 07/22/24 at 15:10:19 My Jazzmaster Ultralight SE is very portable, my Bassman TV Fifteen definitely not easily transported. But. . . I don't ever take my equipment anywhere, don't play out at all. Nice looking equipment!
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Dominick

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Re: Guitar amplifiers
Reply #12 - 07/22/24 at 19:35:05

Great photos….Love the equipment! My everyday practice amp was a Peavey Audition 20 that I’ve probably had for close to 34 years. Very light and easy to bounce around. My main amp is the Peavey Stereo Chorus 400 that I lugged around when I use to play out for weddings. I had that back when I was in college in 1990. Sadly I don’t play like I used to..but still pick it up semi regularly. My cousin wants me to get back into it and play in his band…but I just don’t have that kind of time right now to make that level of commitment. My first ever amp was a Fender all tube bass amp with four 8” drivers. This amp was a beast…I should have never gotten rid of it…but whenI played at a backyard party in high school..it took 2 people move since it was like 4 feet tall.

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Landon Morris Verified Member Posts: 3	Re: Guitar amplifiers Reply #13 - 09/20/24 at 07:41:46 Visit the Carr website to see some really amazing amplifiers; before I die, I would love to own a Super Bee or a Mercury V. Let's create some sound and label it as music. I appreciate the funny photo. However, a more accurate representation would feature different heads. ;)
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BlackBess Seasoned Member TURN IT DOWN,I have children sleeping here Posts: 174	Re: Guitar amplifiers Reply #14 - 10/22/24 at 17:11:51 This Carr Mercury is a single-ended sweetie. Sitting next to a Carr Raleigh for scale.
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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 24899	Re: Guitar amplifiers Reply #15 - 10/22/24 at 19:51:18 Looks nice. I bet it doesn't have that "ice pick" sound so many modern little amps do. Hate that sound!
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